Sorry for the delay boys! Creations are almost done, but we will proceed with pre-season which is 14 games so I want to get it going.

Pre-season will start tomorrow afternoon (June 10th). As a reminder you do not need to be cap compliant until the end of preseason. The 2M preseason cash has also yet to be added.

Sorry for the delay folks, need to push FA for a day to get everything updated.

Free Agency will start Friday at 3PM EST.

As usual, active FA's can be seen on the FA page.

https://www.canadianelitehockeyleague.ca/FreeAgents.php

Offer can be seen from the offers page, or you can just so your offer status in your 'My Offers' section under MyCEHL

https://www.canadianelitehockeyleague.ca/FreeAgentOffers.php

As a reminder anyone under 27 is an RFA and requires compensation.

The first two rounds of the 2024 draft went smoothly. Now onto the later rounds! 

Second half of the draft will be held this Wednesday at 8pm est.

Please send me a list if you cannot make it. 

2024 CEHL Draft Info.

TODAY AT 8PM EST (April 17th)

You can access the draft page here: Canadian Elite Hockey League

Or you can go to the draft page and press on the ‘Enter Live Draft’ button.

Board should be updated but please verify your picks!

Expansion Complete!

We did it! We made it through expansion! No more sleepless nights of worrying about how we can sell off half or team, so we don't lose a 78OV player 198 days from retirement.. I for one am very happy that bullet has been dodged, and we can finally get on with our lives. 

Please see the expansion selections below:

Selections

Expansion Deals:

FA Signings

FA Reductions

Time for the news the rest of us are waiting for.. Expansion!!! Seattle expansion is upon us!

Please see the link to submit your expansion protection list: https://forms.gle/4dga9yYffM1TYty48

Protection lists must be submitted by Sunday April 6th @ 9PM EST.  Teams face a fine of 2M for not submitting a list. Teams failing to leave an unprotected player as defined by the expansion rules will also be fined 5M. I won’t be accepting this for teams 78+, those teams failing to leave an unprotected player will have a protected player of the commish’s choosing left exposed. 

The FA pages has been updated and team cash values have been updated. Playoff Bonuses, Non Voting Awards and Agent compensation have been added. If anything is missing please message me before the expansion deadline. Only if a have a prior confirmation of signing will I be updating missing contracts. As a reminder there will be no rerates this offseason.

Offseason activities will include

1)Expansion Protection List submission

2)Expansion Team Pre FA Period

3)Expansion team picks

4)2024 CEHL Draft

4)Free agency

NON VOTING AWARDS

Molson Cup ($1.5 mil): G SAROS (DAL) 99 Star Points

Jennings Trophy ($1.5 mil): G Georgiev/Lankinen(CHI)

Bob Probert Golden Glove ($1 mil): C Mason Shaw (COL)

Art Ross Trophy ($2.5 mil): Brayden Point (92 PTS) (WAS)

Presidents Trophy ($2 mil): Carolina

‘Bert’ Cup  ($1 mil): Ryan Williams (VAN)

Rocket Richard Trophy ($2 mil): Kyle Connor/Auston Matthews (PHI/TOR 1M EACH)

Farm League Champions ($1 mil): Lavalle (MTL) 108 PTS

Conn Smythe Trophy ($2.5 mil): Connor Hellebuyck (ANA)

Farm League High Scorer (1M) ESPERANCE/PITLICK/ZETTERLUND (WAS/WAS/BUF 666k WAS / 333 BUF

In what might be the most thrilling conclusion in Smitty Cup history, long-time CEHL villain Dan Rudd staged an extraordinary comeback from a 3-0 series deficit to triumphantly secure his fourth Smitty Cup title.

Speculation quickly swirled that Dan might face expulsion from the CEHL in retaliation to U.S. tariffs. However, the CEHL (DEI) team intervened just in time, determining that maintaining an American presence was essential to achieving the league's diversity goals.

Congratulations to Dan and Mark for delivering an unforgettable finale that will be remembered for generations to come.

Oilers Reload: Trade Deadline Moves Shows Edmonton Means Business.

The Edmonton Oilers started their trade deadline plans early by adding Patrick Kane, Ryan O’Reilly and Igor Shesterkin a number of weeks ago. The results of these deals have been mild at best. Thankfully a lot of the West have similarly struggled during this time and the Oilers find themselves fourth in the west, just four points behind the leader.

With just 4 hours remaining to trade, the Oilers decided to make a splash. Five trades were made and the result has changed the face of the entire team.

Out: Mikael Backlund In: Blake Coleman

Backlund was brought in earlier this season and his 80DF rating was seen as a huge boost to the center depth in the lineup. Expecting further trades, it was decided to work with Minnesota and bring back Blake Coleman back to Edmonton. Coleman provides more position flexibility and more physicality while giving up some defensive prowess. Both Minnesota and Edmonton will enjoy fresh two year extensions on the two veterans.

Out: Lukas Reichel, Simon Benoit, Was 2 In: Nick Paul

With looming expansion it was discovered that Lukas Reichel was not exempt and would require protection, for a team with contention in mind it is hard to use a protection slot on a 72ov even if he has a bright future. Benoit will be missed as he has been a warrior on the third pair. Coming from Florida to Edmonton is Nick Paul, a physical top 6 forward that also boasts positional flexibility. One would expect him to find a second line wing position beside Ryan O’Reilly and Oliver Bjorkstrand.

Out: TJ Brodie In ‘25 3rd and ‘25 4th

Basically a reversal of an earlier trade between Toronto and Edmonton that both sides seen no benifit from.

Out: Ridley Greig, Eduard Sale, ‘24 1st, ‘25 2nd In: Mikael Granlund and Neal Pionk

This trade has been weeks coming together. LA drove a hard bargain and Edmonton risked a lot more than they hoped to. Greig is another expansion eligible young forward that wasn’t quite ready to step into a large role with the Oilers. Sale is one of the Oilers brightest and most recent draft picks. The first and second, while late in the rounds, are losses to the team on draft day. Coming back from LA are two players who are expected to make impacts. Granlund, again position flexibility, is a strong two way player that will get tried on the top line wing. Pionk will immediately become the teams top blue liner and PP QB. 

Out: Patrick Kane, Colton Sissons, $2m and a ‘24 4th In: Nazem Kadri and John Marino

Patrick Kane has not enjoyed playing in the North and decided he would like to move to a warmer and more familiar climate. Anaheim had just picked up Kadri and some short negotiations found this trade. Kadri will center Wyatt Johnston and Granlund on the top line and Marino will likely find a spot on the third pair replacing Benoit.

The Oilers had numerous discussions with several GMs and the Management would like to thank them all for great talks, wether fruitful or not. The team feels it is ready to make a big push in the playoffs and are excited to see the results.

We have reached the trade deadline! I know expansion hampers things but lets gets some trades going! Final deadline will be Feb 13th and 9PM. All trades and UFA extension negotiations must be complete by then. As a reminder, the cap is now at 54M (from 53) for the rest of the season.

Leafs Shake up their roster

The Toronto Maple Leafs have finally entered the CEHL playoff race but GM Kostovski is not happy with just a playoff appearance. HE WANTS THE REPEAT. The first ever CEHL repeat. 

GM Kostovski was busy wheeling and dealing Thursday night into Friday. The leafs have sent long time Leaf Tom Wilson packing to Arizona and all around good guy TJ Brodie to the Andy Bradley led Oilers. 

Coming to Leaf land is new 2nd line C Tomas Hertl, Cole Smith and picks.

Rumors swirling around the CEHL suggest GM Kostovski was not done with Hertl and Cole Smith. Rumblings are getting louder that a former star LW is making his way back to the Leafs.